Parents Guideto understanding Autism Spectrum DisorderBy Marlene Gunawan

What is Autism?

• Autism is a developmental disorder known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• There are five different disorders in ASD Spectrum. They are: • Autistic Disorder• Asperger’s Disorder• Pervasive Developmental Disorder- Not Otherwise

Specified (PDD-NOS)• Rett’s Disorder• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

• Today we are focusing on Autistic Disorder and Asperger’s Disorder

Autistic Disorder

• Symptoms for each individual child may varies, hence the idea of a spectrum (where the child is on the spectrum)

• Symptoms need to be present before the child turn three years old

• Autistic disorder is characterized by deficits in communication, socialization and behavior

• For a child to have autistic disorder, the child must meet 6 out of 12 criteria (two in the social domain) based on the DSM-IV-TR(APA,2000) More information can be found in CDC website, click on the hyperlink.

• The most common symptoms of autism are: lack of speech, lack of eye contact, repetitive movement and tantrum

Asperger’s Disorder

• Asperger’s disorder is different from Autistic Disorder as the child does not have language delay

• Child with Asperger’s Disorder may have developed high cognitive strengths as they can store large amount of data in the topic of their interest

• However, children with Asperger’s Disorder may have communication challenges. These may include:• Not understanding social cues • Off timing in social interaction• Difficulties in understanding social convention in

interacting with others• Awkward ways to interject their own agenda to social

activities• Children with Asperger's Disorder will require guidance in

reading non-verbal cues

At what age can autism be detected?

• The earlier Autism is recognized in a child, the sooner the child will receive the care and treatment the child needs.

• Autism generally can be detected as early as one year old.

• However, there are cases in which the child starts degenerating as the child gets older.

• If you suspect your child has autism, the earlier the syndrome is detected, the quicker the child can be treated.

• Pediatricians should be able to get you a referral to a specialist.

• Assessment can be conducted by professionals such as psychologists, neurologist, pediatricians or psychiatrists

• “The field of the professional is less important than the expertise”. As challenging at it may be, it is better to find professional who is an expert in autism.

Communication Development Domain

Age SymptomsInfant/Toddler • Lack of speech

• May not respond to name• Not using gestures

Early School Years

• May sound like little “professors”• One sided conversation• Not seeing that their behavior

affecting others

Summarized from NAC Ed Manual

Behavioral Development

Age SymptomsInfant/Toddlers • Repetitive motor movements not

limited to hand flapping, finger flicking and rocking

• Categorize instead of playing with toys

• Rigidity in routinesEarly Years • Rigid in rules and boundaries

• Need rituals to be able to function

Summarized from NAC Ed Manual

Social Skill Development

Age SymptomsInfant/Toddlers • Does not want to be touched

• No eye contact• Not imitating facial expressions• Failure to respond to emotions

Early Years • Prefers to play alone• Trouble to express own feelings and

understanding other people’s feelings

Summarized from NAC Ed Manual

Importance of Early Intervention

• If you are suspecting your child to have the symptoms we discussed above, seek help immediately.

• “Doing nothing is the worst thing you can do” –Temple Grandin quoted from the book The Way I See It.

• Parents can continue trying to engage their child through playtimes, interacting with the child and engaging the child in meaningful activities

• The early years is the best time to observe the child in his/her environment to gain better understanding on what engage the child and how the child interact with his/her environment and how the child act and react to different situations.

Resources

There are many resources for parents. Here are a couple that we found helpful for parents who are suspecting that their child have autism or their child has recently been diagnosed:• CDC has information about basics of autism, treatments as well

as data and statistics http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html • Autism Speaks has the latest Autism News http://www.autismspeaks.org/• The Way I See It, Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition: A personal

Look at Autism and Aspergers by Temple Grandin• Autism Internet Modules • Evidence-Based Practice and Autism in the Schools by National

Autism Centers• Yayasan Autisma Indonesia • Autism Teaching Materials Resources Section

Contact us

• We at Autism Teaching Materials strive to find the best resources for autism and special needs in Indonesia. We are able to ship all around Asia and Australia.

• For further questions and comments, please email us at autismteachingmaterials@gmail.com

• 021-37356603• Facebook page at Autism Teaching Materials

Thank you for your support!